Greensky Bluegrass - Photo credit: John Kosiewicz

Greensky Bluegrass Winter 2023 Tour

In October 2022, Greensky Bluegrass announced the 16-date Winter 2023 Tour. The tour launched off on January 12th in Buffalo, NY and traveled throughout the East Coast and Midwest parts of the United States. The winter tour wrapped up with two nights in Chicago on February 3 and 4.

The Vic Theatre – Night 1

Front Row Music News had the great pleasure to attend night one of the two night stand in Chicago. Also, these were the final days of the Winter 2023 Tour. Not sure if the show was officially sold out. However, looking around, it absolutely was filled to the brim for the 1400-capacity venue. Prior to the start of the show, I spent a little time talking to some of the people up front. That’s where the dedicated fans are, right on the rail. One couple had driven from Michigan that day and were ready for two night jamming along with Greensky Bluegrass. They mentioned they had seen the band about 25 times with the the most recent show being on New Years Eve 2022.

Also on the front row was Josh Rosenberg, host of Roadcase Podcast. He mentioned how he had interviewed Holly Bowling, as well as Paul Hoffman of Greensky Bluegrass. Be sure to give those interviews a listen, as well as many of his other artist interviews.

Holly Bowling

Opening up the night was Holly Bowling. Bowling was the support for the final four shows of the tour which included Columbus, OH, St. Louis, MO, and Chicago, IL. The classically trained pianist, she transcribed some of the music of Phish and the Grateful Dead into arrangements for solo piano. During her solo performance, she performed “Terrapin Station (Suite)” by the Grateful Dead. All I can say is, it was “Simply a beautiful composition!” After completing her set, she took a quick break and would return to perform as the keyboardist with Greensky Bluegrass.

Greensky Bluegrass

With the lights down low, the five-piece American bluegrass jam band, along with Holly Bowling strolled onto the stage taking their positions for the night. The current line-up includes: Dave Bruzza on guitar, Paul Hoffman mandolin, Michael Bont on 5-string banjo, Anders Beck and Mike Devol on base. The band opened up with “Worry for You” off their most recent studio album, Stress Dreams, released early in 2022, via Thirty Tigers/Big Blue Zoo. The band would go on to performed two sets, plus an encore totaling nearly 2 and 1/2 hours of great music. During the show, Beck summed the night up… “Hell ya people! It appears that you’re having as much fun as us. Which is, for the record, that’s a shit load of fun. That’s good news everybody. Seems like we’re happy to be here, you’re happy to be here. Hell ya, this is great!”

Also, we need to talk about the lighting production. Greensky Bluegrass’ Lighting Designer, Andrew Lincoln, along with Carli Angone from The Vic Theatre created a visual spectacle built around the music.

Greensky Bluegrass Link

To stay up to date on the latest news and to catch Greensky Bluegrass on tour, check out: GreenskyBluegrass.com

Greensky Bluegrass (via SetList.fm)

The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL
February 3, 2023

SET 1
Worry For You
Wings for Wheels
Send Me Your Address From Heaven (Johnnie Bailes cover)
Screams
The Radio Blues
All Four
Feel Like a Stranger (Grateful Dead cover)

SET 2
Do It Alone
Living Over
Room Without a Roof
Train Junkie
Jaywalking
Who Is Frederico?
Give a Shit
Worried About the Weather

Encore:
Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox (Norton Buffalo cover)

Photo Gallery – John Kosiewicz